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PowerBook G3/G4 & iBooks

mtouchette
User

Posts: 19

"restored"--what to expect? - 2007/06/27 10:00 (powerbook g4/1.5mhz aluminum 512mb memory 80gb drive, cd-rw/dvd-r superdrive, airport, bluetooth, 17-inch lcd screen)

the first two i honestly consider to be beyond cosmetic and into the realm of "performance" issues. either situation relates to the performance working parts of the casing inasmuch as it creates a greater than normal potential for damage to the computer. the last one could be a gray area, but as i mention in the description of the problem, apple products are usually better-designed and more responsive.

1. it does not close securely. near as i can tell, there is something wrong with the spring on the left "hook" and it does not stay contracted properly. at first i thought it was just off-kilter, or the top had been somehow warped. then i noticed after a couple of open/closings (while on the phone with techrestore tech support) that on more than one occasion, when opened, the little hooky thing continues to stick out of its compartment.

2. the arrow keys on the lower right of the keypad rise noticeably higher than the rest of the keys. (so high that it reminds me of how the keypad corners stick up if i do not get my wallstreet keypad re-seated properly.) this concerns me not only because it's a nuisance when typing, but it has real potential for damaging the screen.

3. the clickpad seems unusually unresponsive in that i have to consciously press on it--two or three time with increasing force until i find the pressure-level that triggers the click-action. my wallstreet was never that belligerent, nor were any of the pc machines i have been given by various employers. it could be normal, but it really does not live up to the apple standard. i'm wondering if it was replaced in the refurbishing, and somehow the sensor was seated a bit low?

am i off-base thinking any or all of these issues should be resolved, shipping costs included? should i resolve myself to having them resolved, but eating the shipping costs? or, or should i just send the thing back and get out while i can (first 30 days)?

thanks for your insight.

michelle

update:
techrestore is sending me a shipping label since it came out of the box with those issues. they said the latch was definitely something to be taken care of, but weren't sure about the raised keys or clickpad insensitivity. the keys really do concern me for the reasons stated above. as for the clickpad, i experimented with the tap-click feature and with a little retraining, could change my habits to using that.

Post edited by: mtouchette, at: 2007/06/27 11:27

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krowmagnum
User

Posts: 790

Re: - 2007/06/27 11:28 mtouchette wrote:
(powerbook g4/1.5mhz aluminum 512mb memory 80gb drive, cd-rw/dvd-r superdrive, airport, bluetooth, 17-inch lcd screen)

am i off-base thinking any or all of these issues should be resolved, shipping costs included? should i resolve myself to having them resolved, but eating the shipping costs? or, or should i just send the thing back and get out while i can (first 30 days)?

thanks for your insight.

michelle

Sorry to hear of the problems and you are not off base at all.

Refurb or restored should mean that the machine has been thoroughly tested and should be in as new condition. At least mechanically as new.

I would seriously consider sending it back for a refund. The problems you mentioned are not an Apple quality problem but the previous owners lack of care for the Mac or poor tech work. I'm not sure I would trust a company that sends you something with the problems you mentioned to really repair it correctly either. The problems should have been obvious to whoever was supposed to check it out.

The keyboard should fit perfectly and the latch should have no problems. Both issues should have been corrected before shipping it out. It sounds more like an eBay used and sold "AS-IS" Mac more than a "restored" Mac from a dealer like Techrestore.

Personally I would rather buy a Powerbook from an individual who owned and cared for the Mac themselves before buying from a company that is a re-seller of returns or corporate cast-offs. You never know what you'll get and what problems caused it to be returned or sold.

You could buy that same Mac on eBay for less and it wouldn't have been in worse condition than the one you got. I've bought and sold some very nice laptops from eBay auctions. It can be a little risky but so can buying from anywhere as you know.

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